Slidell Cultural Center hosts Warhol exhibit

Pop art is being reborn in Slidell. Currently, the “Andy Warhol: Celebrities,” compliments of the New Orleans Museum of Art, is showing at the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall on 2055 Second Street. Warhol (1928-1987) has given insight to his art in many statements throughout his life. The artist who made the likes of Campbell’s soup cans, Brillo pads, and Heinz 57 boxes into visual artworks once said, “I am a deeply superficial person. I like boring things.”

Scott Threlkeld / The Times-PicayuneKelly Dellsperger of Dellsperger Studio and Gallery ties balloons near the work, 'Einstein Collage' by Lori K. Gordon, during the Oct. 21 coordinated art gallery openings held throughout Olde Towne Slidell in conjunction with the opening of the Slidell Cultural Center exhibit, 'Andy Warhol: Celebrities,' on loan from the New Orleans Museum of Art.

Pop art, which began in the mid-1950s in England and the late ’50s in America was a reaction to and expansion of abstract expressionism. Pop art focused upon images of popular and even kitschy elements of culture through the use of irony. Advertising, product labeling, packaging, comic book characters and logos are prominent in the works of pop artists. It is hard-edged and representational as artists’ statements are made through the use of mundane reality, irony and parody as opposed to symbolism and painterly looseness.

In spite of Warhol’s interest in the mundane, the works on display are captivating and anything but commonplace. Fourteen sizeable prints wrap around the gallery space and demand attention. Whether or not one is a fan of Warhol and pop art, the pieces promote thought and interpretation of the lives of the subjects in the portraits and the artist’s reaction to them.

Among the works included are four colorful, silkscreen prints of a smiling Mao Tse-Tung, chairman of the Communist Party of China, whose stated goal was to combat bureaucracy and who used harsh methods to reign. The prints appear large and in contradiction to his official portrait in subdued colors. Juxtaposed to Mao is a front and profile view of rocker Mick Jagger, which may be the most interpretative images in this collection, with the side view best presenting the substantial Jagger lips.

More familiar icons appear, such as Liz Taylor, Marilyn Monroe and Jacqueline Kennedy. Full-face figures of Monroe and Taylor are as overwhelming as the hype of their careers and life experiences. Kennedy’s shows her in a composite of black-and-white images, which includes the familiar image of her in the pillbox hat she wore riding in the Dallas motorcade on the day of JFK’s assassination and also in her waist-length black funeral veil.

One nonportrait image in the show is of the electric chair. It is originally part of a series of paintings and prints created to generate discussions of the various views of capital punishment. It acts as a metaphor for death and is a tad eerie in person.

No photographs are allowed of the actual prints because of a limit of light intensity on the works, but other interactions were photographable.

Lori Gomez created a Warhol likeness with a cutout of the face. In the plywood standup, he holds a sign focusing upon his philosophy that “everyone will have 15 minutes of fame.” It was irresistible for many in attendance, each reacting differently to it. For instance, John Cork preferred to stand next to the faceless image rather than become the artist. Conversely, Gran Semmes poked his face immediately through the opening and began to make faces à la the real Warhol, whose face reflected either surprise or deadpan aloofness.

Joe Christopher mugged behind the cutout to gain his 15 minutes of fame while his wife, Mary, artist and Commission on the Arts member, pointed gleefully at the congeniality of her husband’s willingness to pose for a picture.

Also included for preserving a flash of fame, Southern Gem Photo Booths placed a photo booth where folks could choose an interesting piece of dress attire, boas or hats or giant glasses, to wear for a set of four photos. This provided several laughs as well as a memento to take home. Samples of those can be viewed on the City of Slidell Facebook page.

In his remarks at the opening, Slidell Mayor Freddy Drennan thanked all the cultural sponsors who make the cultural events possible. He commented that he truly appreciated all the continued efforts of the Cultural Arts Department’s Alex Carollo, Susan Schmidt and Director Kim Bergeron.

Bergeron spoke of the new initiative called Cultural Explorers, which she hopes will involve parents in their children’s cultural awareness. Each child can earn a patch for attending four events in art, symphony, theater or dance.

Gay Hamilton, of the Louisiana lieutenant governor’s office, said, “I am always willing to drive from Baton Rouge to Slidell for their events. The Warhol exhibit is incredible, and I am so impressed with all the cultural opportunities offered in Slidell. I plan to tell many others about Cultural Explorers in order to inspire them.”

The exhibit will be in Slidell until Dec. 16, and admission is free. For further information about the exhibit, call the Slidell Cultural and Public Affairs office at 985.646.4375 or visit www.slidell.la.us/dept_affairs.php.

News about arts activities in east St. Tammany may be sent to Kathleen DesHotel, 1120 Pennsylvania Ave., Slidell, LA 70458-2008; or by email to kathleenfocused@gmail.com. All submissions become the property of The Times-Picayune and will not be returned; submissions may be edited and published or otherwise reused in any medium.